Blue Whale tour in the Azores

Planet

WHALE WATCHING, ANIMAL WELFARE AND RESEARCH

The five whale and dolphin watching trips are operated by a long-established local company with a strong marine biology and research programme. Wildlife welfare is central to the way the trips operate, not simply a regulatory requirement.
Whales and dolphins are never fed, trained or artificially attracted to the boats. Traditional land-based lookouts locate naturally occurring wildlife offshore, while crews follow local approach distances and operating rules. The team will also go beyond the minimum required where they believe an animal is becoming crowded. If several boats begin gathering around the same whale or dolphin group, the skipper may choose to leave the encounter — even if their boat arrived first and guests would prefer to remain — rather than add further pressure to the animal.
This means encounters are led by the behaviour and welfare of the wildlife rather than by trying to maximise viewing time at any cost.
Research is integrated into the operation. Marine biologists and researchers collect information including photographs, species records, locations and behavioural observations, contributing to long-term monitoring and photo-identification work around the Azores. Guests learn about the animals they encounter and the techniques used to study them both at sea and during the two dedicated marine-science presentations included in this vacation.
The local team also works with students and researchers and supports postgraduate research, including PhD-level projects and scientific collaborations.

SPRING MIGRATION AND WILD ENCOUNTERS

Ocean Giants is deliberately timed for spring, when migrating blue, fin and sei whales may pass through Azorean waters alongside resident sperm whales, pilot whales, dolphins and other marine life.
No particular species or sighting can ever be guaranteed. The boats respond to the wildlife naturally present on the day rather than pursuing one target species at the expense of other animals. With five separate whale-watching trips included, guests have repeated opportunities to experience how dramatically conditions and wildlife can change from one departure to the next.

MARINE EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL CONSERVATION

The local marine team is involved in education and community outreach, including work with schools and young people to increase awareness of the whales, dolphins and wider marine environment surrounding the islands.
They also take part in practical initiatives such as beach and coastal clean-ups and marine-litter projects. These activities sit alongside scientific research, public education and the training and development of future marine scientists.

EXPLORING ONE ISLAND IN DEPTH

The vacation is based entirely on São Miguel, avoiding the need for domestic flights or repeated island changes. Alongside the marine programme, included land experiences explore the volcanic landscapes of Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo, Caldeira Velha and Furnas, giving guests a much broader understanding of the island beyond the ocean.

People

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND EMPLOYMENT

The vacation relies on locally based skippers, guides, lookouts and marine biologists who combine scientific knowledge with generations of practical experience observing the Atlantic around the Azores.
The traditional vigias, once part of the islands’ whaling industry, now use their extraordinary ability to locate whales and dolphins to support wildlife observation instead. It is a striking example of specialist knowledge once associated with hunting being repurposed around living animals and modern wildlife tourism.

EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND THE NEXT GENERATION

Our local partners work with students, researchers and young people through school outreach, field experience, mentoring and scientific collaboration.
Support for postgraduate and PhD-level research helps develop the next generation of marine scientists while contributing to a better understanding of cetaceans and the wider North Atlantic ecosystem.
The two Ocean Discovery presentations included in this vacation also give guests the opportunity to engage directly with the science behind the sightings, including species identification, behaviour, migration, photo-identification, acoustics and ongoing research in the Azores.

CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT

We prefer to work with partners whose approach can be seen in practical actions: careful wildlife observation, research, education, staff expertise, community involvement and a willingness to prioritise animal welfare even when doing so may shorten an encounter for guests.
We regularly review the experiences we offer and speak directly with local teams about how tours operate, how wildlife is approached and how the visitor experience can continue to improve.